Ethanol-free gel formulation cartridge for e-vaping device

Abstract

A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes an ethanol-free gel formulation. The ethanol-free gel formulation includes a vapor former, water, and a biopolymer. The biopolymer may be included in an amount ranging from about 0.01% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 2.0% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation. The biopolymer may be one or more of agar, kappa carrageenan, gelatin, sodium alginate, gellan gum, pectin, and combinations thereof. The cartridge also includes a heater configured to heat liquid from the gel formulation to a temperature sufficient to release a liquid/semi-liquid component from the gel, which component thereupon forms a vapor.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cartridge for an e-vaping device, the cartridge comprising:
 an ethanol-free gel formulation, the ethanol-free gel formulation does not include ethanol, the ethanol-free gel formulation including
 a vapor former included in an amount ranging from about 40% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 90% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation, 
 water, and 
 a biopolymer included in an amount ranging from about 0.2% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 0.4% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation, the biopolymer including agar, kappa carrageenan, gelatin, sodium alginate, gellan gum, pectin, or any combination thereof; and 
 
 a heater configured to heat the ethanol-free gel formulation to form a vapor. 
 
     
     
       2. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the vapor former is included in the ethanol-free gel formulation in an amount ranging from about 50% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 80% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation. 
     
     
       3. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the water is included in the ethanol-free gel formulation in an amount ranging from about 5% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 40% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation. 
     
     
       4. The cartridge of  claim 3 , wherein the water is included in the ethanol-free gel formulation in an amount ranging from about 10% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 15% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation. 
     
     
       5. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the ethanol-free gel formulation further includes a flavorant. 
     
     
       6. The cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein the flavorant is included in the ethanol-free gel formulation in an amount ranging from about 0.2% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 15% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation. 
     
     
       7. The cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein the flavorant includes a natural flavorant, an artificial flavorant, or both a natural flavorant and an artificial flavorant. 
     
     
       8. The cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein the flavorant includes a tobacco flavor ingredient, a menthol flavor ingredient, a wintergreen flavor ingredient, a savory flavor ingredient, a spicy flavor ingredient, a cinnamon flavor ingredient, a clove flavor ingredient, a roasted flavor ingredient, a peppermint flavor ingredient, an herb flavor ingredient, a fruit flavor ingredient, a nut flavor ingredient, a liquor flavor ingredient, a natural extract, a lactone substance, pyrazine, vanillin, piperonal, a carbonyl substance, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       9. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the ethanol-free gel formulation further includes nicotine. 
     
     
       10. The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the nicotine is included in the ethanol-free gel formulation in an amount ranging from about 1% to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation. 
     
     
       11. The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the nicotine is included in the ethanol-free gel formulation in an amount ranging from about 1.5% to about 4.5% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation. 
     
     
       12. The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein
 the ethanol-free gel formulation includes nicotine in an amount of at least about 3% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation, and 
 the ethanol-free gel formulation further includes an acid in an amount ranging from about 0.01% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 5.0% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation, the acid includes pyruvic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, glycolic acid, acetic acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid, propionic acid, octanoic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, sorbic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, oleic acid, aconitic acid, butyric acid, cinnamic acid, decanoic acid, 3,7-dimethyl-6-octenoic acid, 1-glutamic acid, heptanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 3-hexenoic acid, trans-2-hexenoic acid, isobutyric acid, lauric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, 2-methylvaleric acid, myristic acid, nonanoic acid, palmitic acid, 4-penenoic acid, phenylacetic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, or any combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       13. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the biopolymer is cross-linkable. 
     
     
       14. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the ethanol-free gel formulation includes a diol and glycerin, the ethanol-free gel formulation including the diol and glycerin in a range of ratios between about 1:4 and 4:1, the diol including propylene glycol, glycerin, 1,3-propanediol, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       15. The cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the ethanol-free gel formulation includes the diol and glycerin in a ratio of about 3:2. 
     
     
       16. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the ethanol-free gel formulation is included in a cylindrical body. 
     
     
       17. The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the heater is
 a wire coil heater contacting a surface of the cylindrical body. 
 
     
     
       18. An e-vaping device, the e-vaping device comprising:
 a first section, the first section including
 a reservoir containing an ethanol-free gel formulation, the ethanol-free gel formulation does not include ethanol, the ethanol-free gel formulation including,
 a vapor former included in an amount ranging from about 40% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 90% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation, 
 water, and 
 
 
 a biopolymer included in an amount ranging from about 0.2% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation to about 0.4% by weight based on the weight of the ethanol-free gel formulation, the biopolymer includes agar, kappa carrageenan, gelatin, sodium alginate, gellan gum, pectin, or any combination thereof, and
 a heater configured to heat the ethanol-free gel formulation to form a vapor; and 
 
 a second section, the second section including
 a power supply, the power supply configured to supply electrical power to the heater, and 
 a control circuitry configured to control a supply of the electrical power to the heater. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The e-vaping device of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second sections include respective interfaces, the interfaces being configured to couple the first section and the second section together, the interfaces being further configured to electrically couple the heater to the power supply.